Where does “wield” come from?
Wield comes from Middle English welden, from Old English wealdan, from Proto-Germanic waldaną, from Proto-Indo-European waldʰ-, meaning to rule or control.
wield (English): To command, rule over; to possess or own; To...
Definitions
- To command, rule over; to possess or own; To...
Ancestry of “wield”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wẹ̄lden | — |
| 2 | Old English | wealdan | to control; to wield; to rule |
| 3 | Germanic | *waldan | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | waldaną | to rule |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | waldʰ- | to be strong, be powerful, prevail, possess |
Words derived from “wield”